SAN MARCOS — The IMPACT Magazine was first published in fall 2011 and has continued to showcase student journalism and creative storytelling for 15 years. In it’s early years, the magazine was produced by a class dedicated solely to the publication under the guidance of adviser Wendy Nelson.
“The magazine was well-received by the campus community and journalism organizations,” Nelson said, explaining that it won a number of awards in the first few years.
Today, the publication is produced by the journalism students of The Telescope under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Victoria Gudmundson, balancing magazine production alongside their regular coursework and newsroom responsibilities.
Gudmundson describes IMPACT as “a more detailed snapshot of Palomar at this point in time,” adding, “we write stories that feel important to us in the now.”
The students composing the magazine spend months interviewing, researching, writing, photographing, editing and designing to bring this publication to life.
“My favorite part of the process is just seeing that first draft of seeing what people have written and, like, where the story is gonna go,” quality editor Evelyn Acevedo said. “Sometimes maybe you’ll start with the story and then by the end of it, it takes a shift, like a complete shift.”
This magazine provides a rare platform for students; the chance to have their writing published in print. In the digital age we’re living in, it’s seldom the opportunity arises for a student to have their writing printed in a tangible magazine.
“To have it on printed paper, there’s something about that that feels official,” Telescope staff writer Cooper Land said. “There’s definitely something about it that’s validating.”
Land’s story, “Farewell To Flecicia,” profiles longtime Palomar athletic trainer Flecicia Heise, and is one of many feature pieces included in the 18th edition of IMPACT, which also includes opinion writing, lifestyle pieces, and arts coverage.
To celebrate 15 years of the magazine and the release of its 18th edition, The Telescope hosted an IMPACT “birthday party.” The event took place on May 14 under the SU Quad flagpole. The staff served cake, passed out new issues, and had past magazines to look through and take.
For many students, IMPACT is more than a publication. It’s a space for creative expression and a platform to share their voices, passions and perspectives.
“Impact is a record of this moment in time: how students are feeling, what they care about, the people that inspire on campus,” Gudmundson said.
This year’s 15th anniversary edition of the IMPACT Magazine can be found in newsstands around campus. There are stands located all across campus, some being in the parking garage, library, bookstore, in front of the dome, in front of student services, and near the student union. The digital version and additional info about the past and present magazines can be accessed through The Telescope’s website.